John "Jack" Keener,

SEABROOK, SOUTH CAROLINA - John (Jack) Leroy Keener, Jr. of Beaufort, SC, passed away on Monday, October 22, 2012.  He was born in Bethesda, MD at Bethesda Naval Hospital, the son of Dr. John Leroy Keener, Sr., and Catherine Elizabeth Young Keener.  As a Navy military dependent, he had lived in the Territory of Hawaii, Quantico, VA; Dahlgren, VA; Warwick, RI; Portsmouth, VA; and Beaufort, SC. He served in the US Army as a helicopter pilot and an instructor pilot, and he retired from the SC Army National Guard.  Military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in Biology and obtained a Masters Degree of the Arts in Biology from The Citadel. He retired from Clemson University in 2002 and had served as a Marine Extension Agent, State Commercial Fishery Specialist, County Extension Director and County Agricultural Agent for Beaufort County.  He started the Master Naturalist Program in South Carolina and taught the Master Gardener class in Beaufort County for many years, He was a member of many organizations, including: the County Agents Associations of South Carolina, the SC Fishery Workers Association, the SC Wildlife Association, Beaufort County Saddle and Bridle Club member and President, the Beaufort Rotary Club member, president and Assistant District Governor, Beaufort County Farm Bureau member and president, the Soaring Society of America, Low Country Soaring Association member and president, Beaufort Shag Club, and a charter member of the Exchange Club of Beaufort. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Carteret Street United Methodist Church where he served on the church council. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; a step-daughter, Libby Sellers and her husband, Paton; ason, John (Jack) L. Keener III; one brother, David Keener and  one sister, Kathy Keener Rowan. He and his wife Cindy established Wimbee Farm in Dale, SC in 1986 where they raised beef cattle, and produced row crops and pine trees. Jack held a commercial pilot's license for helicopters, airplanes, and gliders. The funeral service, with Full Military Honors, will be held at 11 o'clock Friday morning, October 26, 2012, at the graveside in Beaufort National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to Carteret Street United Methodist Church.